Wild Dominate Kraken In Playoff Race "Showdown" 5-2

The Seattle Kraken Winter Classic sweaters must only work outdoors.

In a game billed as a big-time showdown to separate contender from pretender in the playoff race, the Minnesota Wild rolled into Climate Pledge Arena Saturday and rolled the Kraken, 5-2

Starting Seattle goalie Joey Daccord didn't last for half the game, as Kirill Kaprizov's two goals and Mats Zuccarello's four assists led a potent Wild attack.

For fans wondering how Minnesota could have scored 10 goals Feb. 19 against Vancouver, now they know firsthand.

Check the 3rd period summary below for some unhappy questions arising from this performance.

1st Period

Back on Dec. 10 in the same building, Seattle got zero goals in 60 minutes during a 3-0 Minnesota shutout.

Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn made sure there wouldn't be a repeat 36 seconds into the game. His wrist shot from the point nestles in behind Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fluery for a quick Seattle lead.

For Dunn, his 10th goal; for Jared McCann, an assist extends his personal point streak to a career-best seven games.

McCann doesn't get to enjoy it long. Wild winger Vinni Lettieri, racing for a loose puck, appears to unintentionally connect his shoulder with McCann's head. Seattle's 25-goal man briefly leaves the ice for repairs, but soon returns.

The Seattle lead lasts until 4:59, when the Wild's Marcus Johansson puts a right circle shot past Kraken goalie Joey Daccord.

Goalie comparison. Career NHL games, counting tonight: Fleury, 1,013; Daccord, 58. Goals allowed in the first five minutes tonight: Fleury 1, Daccord 1.

Jaden Schwartz (tripping) and Jamie Oleksiak (high-sticking) take penalties 29 seconds apart. Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov makes them pay, scoring a 5-on-3 goal, his 29th, for a 2-1 lead at 13:32.

Now killing a 5-on-4, Brandon Tanev's shorthanded breakaway is foiled by Fleury.

The Kraken don't score on their first PP, then go back on the PK with 38 seconds left in the period.

Shots finish 9-9, with Minnesota having 1:38 of power play time remaining.

2nd Period

Matty Boldy's beautiful fake leads to Minnesota's second power play goal. First he dangles past Will Borgen, then backhands past Daccord. 3-1 Wild on Boldy's 23rd at 1:09.

It's not like the Minnesota PP (15th) is a mismatch for the Seattle PK (17th). It just seems like it tonight.

Speaking of mismatches, Kaprizov ends Daccord's night early at 2:14. He blows his second goal of the evening, 26th of the season, past the embattled Kraken netminder for a 4-1 lead.

Philipp Grubauer grabs his mask and stick to take over the Seattle cage.

The home team, badly in need of a power play marker, can't get one. The Kraken are now 0-for-2 against the NHL's third-worst penalty kill.

If Seattle wasn't already convinced this wasn't their night, confirmation is provided at 6:57. Third-pairing Wild defenseman Dakota Mermis beats Grubauer cleanly to increase Minny's lead to 5-1.

Nothing against Dakota Mermis, but when a 30-year-old career minor leaguer named Dakota Mermis pierces your team for his 3rd career NHL goal, maybe it's time to concede.

And it's not like Minnesota has been bombarding shots on the Seattle net. The Kraken actually outshot Minnesota in the period, 12-11.

For the Kraken, frustration is showing. Andre Burakovsky, angered at what he considered a premature whistle in the Wild zone, fires the puck against the boards. Yanni Gourde jaws with the linesperson when he's excused from a faceoff.

3rd Period

Idle thoughts, which we have plenty of time for because NHL rules mandate a 3rd 20-minute period be played even when the outcome has already been determined.

• Much as "savior goalie Martin Jones" ran its course last season, will the Kraken once again turn their lonely eyes to Philipp Grubauer and away from Joey Daccord?

• Who's to blame for the Kraken coming out so flat?

• The enduring mystery of this Kraken season is how essentially the same team can look so dangerous in statement wins over the Canucks, Bruins, Golden Knights, and Panthers - and so overmatched in losses to the Sharks, Senators, Blackhawks and Coyotes.

Jordan Eberle adds window dressing with his 13th goal, third in two games, at 6:11.

Among a bushel of depressing numbers, the Kraken finish the night 0-for-5 against the NHL's 30th ranked penalty kill.

During an Adam Larsson double minor, Kraken defenseman Will Borgen is adjudged to have legally sent Joel Eriksson Ek heavily into the corner boards. Ek took a while getting up.

With Calgary and Nashville both seemingly on the way to out-of-town victories, and Minnesota gaining two points on the Kraken as well, that hoped-for playoff berth is again looking very distant.